Case study

Imagine that you are working with a young Asian client who is struggling with their sexual identity. They are uncomfortable speaking with their parents about it but have come to a turning point where they feel they can no longer stay quiet. Which of the social worker roles do you think might be most helpful to this client? Do they need an advocate, a mediator, or a facilitator? In which of these roles do you feel you would excel, and with which might you need more practice? Much is dependent on information gathered from the client, but regardless of their needs, a skilled social worker should be prepared to apply any of these roles.

In this Discussion, you engage with a case study, identifying the professional roles the social worker employs, as well as your aptitude in relation to these roles.

Cournoyer, B. R. (2017). The social work skills workbook (8th ed.). Cengage.

oChapter 1, “Introduction” (pp. 3–15)

Document: Social Work Roles (PDF)Download Social Work Roles (PDF)

Case Study

You are a social worker whose agency provides consultancy and support services to a center-city homeless center. Jazmine, a 19-year-old female, was referred to your office by counselors at the center. Upon arriving at your office, you notice that Jazmine is acting nervous. You ask how she is feeling and other questions to put her more at ease. Her body language slowly softens, and she begins to open up. Through light questioning about her current situation and what brought her into the office, you learn that Jazmine is 3 months pregnant. She left her parent’s home when they found out about the pregnancy. You begin using interviewing techniques to engage with Jazmine and build rapport with her. As she becomes more comfortable and realizes that the social worker wants to help, not judge, Jazmine tells the story of how she got pregnant and how her family refused to support her. Her boyfriend blamed her for the situation as well and broke up with her recently.

During the assessment process, additional information about Jazmine is uncovered. You determine that she has very little support and a minimum-wage job that involves heavy labor. She has no place to live, few friends to lean on, and no desire to remain at the center. Jazmine mentions an aunt with whom she is close but states that she has not reached out to her following the blow-up with her parents. Although she initially seemed fearful, confused, and hopeless, she describes herself as a “good student” and a “hard worker” and expresses that she has always wanted to go to cosmetology school. Together, you and Jazmine identify the areas of her life that she can influence and make a list of steps she should take:

1. Apply for governmental health insurance (Medicaid).
2. Schedule and keep regular prenatal appointments.
3. Explore options for housing.
4. Explore local cosmetology schools and financial aid opportunities.
5. Begin parenting classes.
6. Search for playdate and support groups for young, single parents.
7. Pursue child support.

You and Jazmine also think about timelines and goals. In the next several weeks, Jazmine is able to work out a deal with her aunt. She is able to live there rent-free if she watches her younger cousins before and after school. You also connect her with a local public health clinic that provides prenatal care and support with acquiring Medicaid benefits, locating support groups, and finding parenting classes. Jazmine also enrolls in a cosmetology school where she takes evening classes. There is even another student who is pregnant. They talk about potentially finding an apartment together where they can split costs and support each other. Weekly counseling sessions have been beneficial for Jazmine as well. She has been considering attempting to mend the relationship with her parents. After working with Jazmine for 7 months, you evaluate her success against her goals and note the following:

1. She applied for and acquired Medicaid benefits.
2. She kept her prenatal appointments and gave birth to a healthy baby girl.
3. She and her friend got an apartment together near the school where they are both raising their daughters and working part-time.
4. She has completed the first two courses at cosmetology school and will be able to get work at a salon as an assistant soon.
5. She has found online parenting classes and has completed much of the work already.
6. She has attended meetings with two different parent support/child playdate groups but has not yet found one she likes.
7. She spoke to an attorney’s office about seeking child support payments from her ex-boyfriend.

You and Jazmine determine that it is time to evaluate and terminate the existing social worker relationship now that she has the tools needed to support herself and her daughter.

Main Assignment:

Identify and explain at least two roles that the social worker filled in their work with the client.

Describe your personal strengths and challenges related to the two roles you identified.

On a separate page, three sentences to answer these questions.

identify one way in which your colleague could capitalize on their strengths associated with these roles.

Propose one strategy your colleague could use to improve in a role they find challenging.

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